The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) shall provide technical support and expertise to investigators who request for help with the handling or recovery of digital media evidence (DME).
THE CAU ROLE

CAU personnel shall provide technical support to
investigators for the preservation, recovery,
and/or clarification of DME.

A. The assigned investigator shall remain the
primary contact, although CAU DME assistance is
requested for a case.

B. The CAU shall process requests from patrol
officers or investigators for on-scene DME
technical support or expertise.

C. The Crime Analysis Request, HPD-107B form,
shall be submitted to the CAU, via channels,
to request for assistance.

RECOVERED DME

A. The investigator shall be responsible to complete
the Digital Multimedia Evidence Recovery, HPD-503 form,
for all CAU DME recoveries.

B. The investigator should accompany the CAU
to the location of the DME recovery. The
investigator shall provide the date, time, and
location for the DME recovery.

C. The CAU shall recover the DME in accordance
with training and best practices.

D. The CAU shall provide the investigator with
the original and two copies of the Digital
Multimedia Evidence Recovery, HPD-503 form.

E. The investigator shall submit the recovered
DME into evidence per Policy 8.13, HANDLING OF
EVIDENCE AND FOUND PROPERTY.

F. The CAU shall document the recovery of the
DME in the police report and submit any other
related reports.

DME RECOVERED BY THE INVESTIGATOR OR PATROL

There may be occasions where the DME is recovered
by the patrol officer or investigator and it cannot
be replayed without the proprietary player from the
original digital video. The CAU may be called upon
to convert the DME into a playable recording.

A. If at all possible, the CAU should work with only
the original DME that had been submitted into evidence.

B. If the original DME has not yet been submitted
into evidence, it shall be the responsibility of
the investigator to present the DME to the CAU.
The investigator shall remove the original DME
from evidence and hand carry it to the CAU.

C. The CAU will make a copy of the original DME,
in the presence of the investigator, and return
it back to him or her.

D. The CAU will then convert the DME video in
accordance with training and best practices.

E. Once successfully completed, the CAU shall
provide the investigator with two copies of
the recovered DME.

F. The investigator shall submit the original
and converted DME into evidence per Policy 8.13,
HANDLING OF EVIDENCE AND FOUND PROPERTY.

G. The CAU shall annotate the recovery and/or
conversion of the DME and submit any related
reports and/or other documents in the police report.

COMPUTER/HARD DRIVE RECOVERY

In certain circumstances, the Digital Video
Recorder or player/system on which the DME
resides must be physically taken in order
to recover video. For these cases, Information
Technology Division digital forensics personnel
shall be contacted. Refer to Policy 8.18,
COMPUTER AND DIGITAL FORENSIC REQUESTS, for processing.